- The Gaza Health Ministry reported a significant rise in the death toll to 61,709 Palestinians, including over 17,000 children, due to the 15-month conflict with Israel. This includes 14,222 Palestinians previously listed as missing and now presumed dead.
- The Lancet medical journal estimated that the true number of casualties would be 40 percent higher than initially reported, reflecting the difficulties faced by rescue teams in accessing and identifying bodies trapped under rubble.
- The conflict has severely damaged Gaza's infrastructure, affecting essential services like healthcare, water, sanitation and electricity, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis for its 2.3 million residents.
- The revised death toll has led to renewed international debate, with some suggesting forced relocation of Gaza residents and others criticizing such proposals as potentially amounting to ethnic cleansing.
- The situation highlights the urgent need for a peaceful solution to address the humanitarian crisis and respect the rights of Gaza's residents, with the international community's response critical to the future stability of the region.
The Gaza Health Ministry on Feb. 3 confirmed a significant rise in the death toll from Israel's ongoing 15-month conflict in Gaza, reporting that 61,709 Palestinians have lost their lives, including over 17,000 children. The ministry's revised estimate includes the addition of 14,222 Palestinians who were previously listed as missing but are now presumed dead after bodies were recovered following the ceasefire on Jan. 19.
The revised death toll is in line with a recent estimate by the Lancet medical journal, which had projected that the number of casualties in Gaza during the first nine months of the conflict would be about 40 percent higher than initially reported. This underscores the severe challenges faced by rescue teams in accessing and identifying bodies trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings and homes.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Shawa, the health ministry's spokesperson, emphasized the enormity of the task: "We have been working around the clock to recover bodies and provide closure to families, but the scale of destruction is overwhelming. Many bodies were buried under layers of debris, making it extremely difficult to reach them." (Related: Amid ceasefire, Gaza begins grim search for 10,000 bodies vanquished or lost in the rubble.)
Humanitarian crisis continues
The conflict's impact extends beyond direct casualties, as Israel's extensive bombardment has devastated Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, water and sanitation systems and electricity networks. The destruction has left many Palestinians without access to essential services, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The Lancet's June 2023 report projected that, even with an immediate end to the conflict, the death toll could reach as high as 186,000 due to the indirect effects of the war.
The revised death toll has sparked renewed international debate and criticism of the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that Gaza's "demolition site" status could warrant the forced relocation of its 2.3 million Palestinian residents to Egypt and Jordan. This proposal echoes a leaked Israeli Ministry of Intelligence plan from October 2023, which suggested similar actions under humanitarian pretexts.
In response, the administration of former President Joe Biden on Oct. 20, 2023, released a $105 billion supplemental funding request for the Israel and Ukraine wars, including funds to help implement Israel's plans for Gaza. This move has drawn criticism from human rights groups and international observers, who argue that such plans could amount to forced expulsion and ethnic cleansing.
Human Rights Watch's Middle East director, Sarah Leah Whitson, stated: "The international community must condemn these proposals and work towards a resolution that respects the rights and dignity of Gaza's residents. The continued destruction and displacement of Palestinians is unacceptable."
As the situation in Gaza remains volatile, the revised death toll serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution. The international community's response to the crisis will be crucial in determining the future of Gaza's residents and the broader Middle East region.
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